Clothes Make The Woman (Happy) - Clutter Does Not

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

I took Monday off to go to the city and reward myself with retail therapy so you can imagine my emotions when I got up and saw thick wet snowflakes falling onto a slushy yard. Ick. Fortunately it warmed up to a nice raw cold rain - so I went anyway.

First stop was a visit with my mama - the artist - who lives in a skilled nursing home where she is superbly cared for. She hasn't had even a cold now since she moved in. There is a devoted daughter (my sis) who lives closer than I and there is me, the non-custodial daughter. We both bring different gifts to her care and we're never resentful about what the other one is not doing. We just love that cutie pie of a mother with all we have in us.

I took an old diary of hers, written in 1960, and read it to her. That year my big sister was 12, I was 7, going on 8, and The Babies were 2 and 3. My mother's New Year's Resolution for 1960 was to lose 10 lbs. She was horrified that she weighed 130 lbs! I have a loooooong history with the weight issues.

Sister and I met for lunch at a shopping mall where I knew I could look at a lot of clothes. The plan was to not buy but to try on and formulate spending plans. I might have spent more anyway except that I'd pulled out about 1/2 my warm weather clothes on Sunday and realized there isn't too much I need to buy. I have a TON of clothes.

I clothes. Always have. Probably always will. But I own too many clothes - too many for my life and too many for the space I have to put them. And of course, in too many different sizes. I have 6 dresser drawers and about 3 feet of closet space to store my clothes and the goal is to own no more than fits in that space. Last fall I did a major wardrobe weeding and tried to be firm about what I put back into the attic but I still have too much stuff.

I tried on and tried on and tried on clothes - and fell in love with many garments all over again. I sorted out everything that wasn't perfect for me and made a pile of it to offer my sister. It's still too cold to bring most of these clothes downstairs but I kept a few of the brighter, lighter things to cheer me up as the sun creeps higher in the sky. But I know I'll have to do this wardrobe research again with the other half of my warm weather clothes before I do any real shopping. It looks like what I need is a good basic neutral blazer ... and I know I'll need a good chocolate brown slightly longer top to go with some of my favorite flowered skirts. But before I put down the big bucks I want to be sure I know what I need.

Another reason I didn't buy much was because I had such a late start and the weather was getting bad again so I felt hurried - which I know is a really BAD time to spend money. I did find a blazer I liked at Macy's. It fit perfectly and I can always order it on-line.

But lest you think I came home empty handed - fear not! There was retail therapy. I'm really fond of flowered skinny jeans and look what I picked up at WalMart of all places. A perfect fit.

KRISKECK
Cute flowery skinny jeans! I love clothes too and got rid of a whole bunch of old ones -- large and small -- a couple years ago, bought new ones and outgrew them over the past two years. But when I get down 5 more pounds I will be back in them again -- which makes me very very happy! Have fun and enjoy!

JLITT62
Funny, I have stayed far away from the flowered jeans trend! I think it's too trendy & can be hard to pull off when you're petite like me. I still remember the pink ones I had in my 20s . . . what was I thinking?

But I'm glad you rewarded yourself!

You know you have too many clothes when you have to try on 3 or 4 different outfits to decide what's right . . . I still can't seem to help myself, tho. Good for you for showing restraint!1825 days ago

VMASSEY2
Bess, your story sounds a lot like mine. But those jeans I could not wear. Too Skinny. It might could be a goal huh. I too need to go through my closets and get rid of the clothes I do not wear anymore. But mostly mine are all the same size. I had done well until Danny got sick and have put on 25 lbs in the last year. I have got to get the weight off. I refuse to buy anything until I lose them. So, right now I don't have much that I can still wear; especially in the pants department.

Anyways, my mother is in assisted living now also and my sister is the primary care giver. I take care of the finances. My sister is better with my mother. We would just argue. Now don't get me wrong. I do love her but I do not put up with her whining very well. So as you said we each have our talents.

MYRTLE811
REtail therapy! A woman who has likes that correspond with what I want and need! It's hard not to buy; I can now buy on sale and clearance and get amazing things. Like you, however, my closet is bulging and I don't need anything else. But after years of having to wear whatever would just fit, it is a test on my part to walk buy and leave behind those clothes that not only fit but also look good on me.Keep having fun. I shop my closet often.1826 days ago